(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John William Heimburger, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as Forward Air Controller and Pilot of an 0-1 Birddog Airplane of the 504th Tactical Air Support Group, in Laos, on 22 December 1967. Captain Heimburger flew to assist two F-4 aircrewmen shot down near Tchepone Pass, Laos. Armed only with an M14 rifle, a revolver, and smoke rockets, and taking small arms fire from North Vietnamese forces, Captain Heimburger held off the enemy and provided cover for one of the downed aircrew as he moved from bomb crater to bomb crater up the side of a mountain. With Captain Heimburger flying low overhead in his Cessna Bird Dog, the aviator made it to a point where an unarmed Marine helicopter could rescue him. After refueling in Khe Sanh, Captain Heimburger returned to the scene of the F-4 crash to search for the other aviator, all the time taking fire from the North Vietnamese. Unfortunately, the second aviator did not survive the crash. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Heimburger has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.